The launch company said it had "encountered an issue" as SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland paused its plans to test a rocket over the next five weeks. In July, Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) said it had "encountered an issue" after a successful week of tests on the pad, and the German firm said it had disassembled the rocket to carry out investigations.
A five-week "launch window" had been due to begin on Monday, with temporary traffic restrictions in the event of a flight attempt, but that will no longer be required. SaxaVord is the first fully licensed vertical launch spaceport in the UK.
A number of companies hope to use SaxaVord in Unst, the northernmost point in the UK, as a launch site for small commercial rockets. RFA is expected to be the first, but the company's plans are now uncertain.
SaxaVord Spaceport said temporary traffic orders associated with the launch window had been put on hold "until further notice". A spokesperson added that there would be no launch-related restrictions in place between 10 August and 14 September.
The company has thanked the community for its "continued patience and support".
In August 2024, a test by RFA known as a hot-fire resulted in an engine explosion at the SaxaVord site.
A second company, HyImpulse Technologies GmbH (HyImpulse), has signed an agreement to launch a rocket from Shetland this year. It would be the second flight of its SR75 suborbital launch vehicle following a successful "lift off" in Australia.
Residents will have the chance to gain access to viewing spaces for test flights.
Caroline Hunter, who chairs Unst Community Council, said it was a "good thing" the company was taking safety precautions. SaxaVord Spaceport previously said an exclusion zone would be in place for four hours for any test attempted during the five weeks, and it would have included the spaceport and an area of sea to the north of Unst.
Hunter said everybody had been going about their day-to-day activities.
"It hasn't really had a huge impact that I'm aware of,"
she added.
"I think people are generally positive, but there are some reservations."
Why is the delay being described as a hard industry problem?
Daniel Smith, the Scottish government's space envoy and the founder of AstroAgency, said he was not surprised by the delay.
"There are always going to be challenges,"
he said.
"We say in the industry that space is hard. Making sure that everything is right before going ahead is vital.
"You're dealing with fragile, high-value items."
Smith said that he believed a launch was "just a matter of time". In July, RFA said it would provide updates as soon as confirmed information was available.
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